centre the seizure of pearl ridge would give the australians control of the east – west avenues of approach , as well as afford ##ing them protection against further counter @ - @ attacks , while also opening the way for a drive to the east coast ; and the main campaign in the south , where the bulk of the japanese forces were concentrated around bu ##in . = = = preliminary moves = = = following the capture of pearl ridge in december 1944 , the australian 7th brigade had been moved south and allocated to the drive towards bu ##in . in late march and early april 1945 , they had fought the battle of slater ' s kn ##oll after which a brief lu
centre the seizure of pearl ridge would give the australians control of the east – west avenues of approach, as well as affording them protection against further counter @ - @ attacks, while also opening the way for a drive to the east coast ; and the main campaign in the south, where the bulk of the japanese forces were concentrated around buin. = = = preliminary moves = = = following the capture of pearl ridge in december 1944, the australian 7th brigade had been moved south and allocated to the drive towards buin. in late march and early april 1945, they had fought the battle of slater's knoll after which a brief lu